Call to formulate law to ensure rights of Dalits

Marginalised community people, including Dalits and Harijans, bring out a procession from the National Press Club in the city yesterday demanding steps to ensure their human rights on the occasion of the International Day for the Eliminations of Racial Discrimination today.Photo: STAR

Harijan and Dalit community yesterday demanded formulation of a law to eliminate the social discrimination against them and to ensure their civic rights.
They demanded special allocation for the marginalized community in national budget and preserve quota in higher education and government jobs.
Addressing a press conference at National Press Club in the city leaders of Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad and Bangladesh Dalit Parishad also demanded representation of Dalit community in the Jatiya Sangsad.
They submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister with a number of demands including formulation of a pay structure consistent with the present market price of daily essentials.
Addressing the press conference HOP secretary general Nirmal Chandra Sen alleged they are worst victims of discrimination in getting government jobs.
"We are living a inhuman life with no citizens' rights. There are no educational facilities for our children. Even if some of them get education, they do not get jobs as they are Harijans," Nirmal Chandra said.
The press conference was jointly organised by HOP, BDP, Manusher Jonno Foundation, BLAST, Caritas and some other NGOs to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination yesterday.
The Harijan leaders also demanded to regularise their jobs in city corporations, municipalities, non-government and private organisations and reserving 80 percent post of sweepers in the every sector for the Harijan community.
HOP leaders Babu Montu Horijan, Babu Krishna Lal, Babu Kailash Das, and Baiju Lal Sardar were present at the press conference.